§ 3. Election of Mayor and City Councilors
(a) Election of Mayor. On the first Tuesday in March 2003 and triennially thereafter, the legal voters of the City shall, from among the legal voters thereof, elect a Mayor. Notwithstanding any provision of this charter or the general statutes, no person shall be eligible to have his or her name printed on the ballot as a candidate for the Office of Mayor who has not submitted a nominating petition signed by at least 150 registered voters of the City within the time limits specified in 17 V.S.A. chapter 55, as the same may be amended from time to time. For all special elections, nominations of the municipal officers shall be by petition as specified in 17 V.S.A. chapter 55, excepting 17 V.S.A. § 268l(a)(1)(A). Instead, the petition shall be filed with the municipal clerk, together with the endorsement, if any, of any party or parties in accordance with the provisions of this title, not later than 5:00 p.m. on the ninth Monday preceding the day of the election, which shall be the filing deadline.
(b) Election of City Councilors.
(1) On the first Tuesday in March 2015 and biennially thereafter, the legal voters of each of the South, Central, East, and North City Districts shall, from among the legal voters of their respective district, elect a City Councilor for a two-year term.
(2)(A) On the first Tuesday in March 2015, the legal voters from each of Wards One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, and Eight shall, from among the legal voters of their respective ward, elect a City Councilor for a three-year term.
(B) On the first Tuesday in March 2018 and biennially thereafter, the legal voters of each ward shall elect a City Councilor for a two-year term. (Amended 1997, No. M-18, (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. April 23, 1998; 2001, No. M-6, § 2; 2013, No. M-15 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. March 3, 2015; 2019, No. M-12 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Oct. 8, 2020.)
Structure Vermont Statutes
Title 24 Appendix - Municipal Charters
Chapter 3 - City of Burlington
App § 1. Boundaries defined; powers
App § 3. Election of Mayor and City Councilors
App § 4. Election of School Commissioners
App § 5. Election to be by ballot; method of election; runoff elections
App § 6. Requirements generally
App § 7. Age and residence requirements
App § 8. Person to vote in ward or City district in which the person resides; residence requirement
App § 10. Specified; election; term
App § 11. Performance of duties; terms
App § 13. Vacancies to be filled by City Council
App § 14. List of voters to be prepared; posting
App § 15. Notice of meeting to alter or correct list required
App § 16. Additions or corrections permitted
App § 18. Copies of list to be given inspectors
App § 19. Where elections held; early voter absentee ballots
App § 21. Duties of election inspectors
App § 23. Retained ballots to be delivered to inspectors on demand
App § 24. Record of ballots delivered required; receipts
App § 25. Requirements generally
App § 26. Questions at special meeting to be decided by ballot
App § 27. Presiding officer; powers
App § 28. Warning required; location; voting
App § 29. Checklists to be prepared and posted
App § 30. General laws applicable; exceptions
App § 31. Duties of election inspectors and ward clerks
App § 31a. Establishment of voting precincts within wards permitted
App § 36. Administration; vested in Mayor and City Council; selection and terms of same
App § 40. Quorum; attendance of certain officers may be required
App § 41. Meetings to be public; except
App § 42. Composition; meetings
App § 43. Composition; Board for Registration of Voters; duties; appointments; offices
App § 46. Approval or veto of ordinances by Mayor; reconsideration; item veto on appropriations
App § 47. Ordinances to become valid at expiration of certain period if not returned
App § 50. City Council to establish penalty
App § 51. Ordinance enforcement
App § 52. Court authorized to order abatement
App § 54. Offenders may be liable in damages
App § 55. City Council may authorize sale or lease
App § 56. Council to have powers conferred by statute regarding public burial grounds
App § 57. Manner of taking land for reservoirs, aqueducts, water pipes, etc
App § 58. Council to issue citation that land is to be taken; service
App § 59. Refunding bonds; Council may authorize issuance of bonds
App § 61. Bonds to be signed and contain statement that they conform to applicable provisions
App § 62. Council; School Board; not to pledge credit of City; exceptions
App § 63. Council may pledge credit of City when authorized by voters to do so
App § 64. State law not applicable to section 63
App § 64a. Council authorized to erect sewage disposal plant and issue bonds therefore
App § 64b. Revenue bonds authorized
App § 66. Annual school appropriations
App § 67. Appropriations for park and recreation purposes
App § 68. Authorized expenditures
App § 69. Fiscal year; reports required
App § 71. Approval of property owners required
App § 81. Tax classification; repeal of inventory tax
App § 83. Preparation; contents
App § 84. Composition of books
App § 85. Arrangement of information in books
App § 86. Summary of assessed valuations to be made and constitute an abstract
App § 87. Notice that abstract completed to be given; meetings of assessors
App § 88. Abstracts and certificate to be completed by May fifth
App § 89. Notice of changes and that abstracts and lists are open for inspection to be filed
App § 90. Aggrieved persons permitted to appear before assessors; preliminary review
App § 91. Appeal of assessors decision
App § 93. Alterations in valuation to be entered in “corrected valuation” column
App § 94. Completion of grand list; collection
App § 95. Abstracts sufficient for returns to Secretary of State
App § 97. Forms for books may be altered as directed by State Tax Commissioner; extension of time
App § 98a. A tax ceiling reduction after reappraisal
App § 99. Additional assessment; amount
App § 100. Annual assessment for redemption of bonds authorized
App § 101. Annual assessment to pay bond interest authorized
App § 102. Annual local education spending
App § 102a. Annual assessment for Fire and Police Departments use authorized
App § 102b. Annual assessment for streets use authorized
App § 102c. Annual assessment for library use authorized
App § 102d. Local option sales tax authority
App § 102e. Annual assessment for park use
App § 102f. Annual assessment for Housing Trust Fund use authorized
App § 103. Taxes to be paid in money
App § 104. Taxes to be paid in installments
App § 105. Chief Administrative Officer to give notice upon receipt of tax bills
App § 106. Delinquency assessments
App § 107. When Treasurer to issue warrant against delinquent persons
App § 108. Chief Administrative Officer to collect delinquent taxes
App § 109. Collection after time warrant returnable permitted
App § 110. Chief Administrative Officer to proceed in manner prescribed by law
App § 111. Fees for collection of delinquent taxes
App § 113. Assessments may be collected by suit
App § 114. Council to establish and prescribe nature of connections
App § 118. Mayor to administer oaths
App § 119. Remission of fines authorized
App § 124. Chair; clerk, records
App § 125. Mayor and City Councilors
App § 126. Commissioners and Board of Tax Appeals
App § 127. Department heads and other officers
App § 129. Appointing body or person has power to remove
App § 130. Manner of filling vacancy and residency requirement
App § 131. Dual positions prohibited
App § 132. Mayor, City Council, and other City officials
App § 133. Conflicts of interest
App § 134. Required of Treasurer and other officers handling City funds
App § 135. City Council to approve surety company; costs to be paid by City
App § 136. Officer to be removed from neglect to give bond after notice
App § 138. Duties of Chief Administrative Officer generally
App § 140. Certified copies of records to be made
App § 141. Certification that notices, ordinances, etc., have been posted required
App § 144. Chief Administrative Officer to keep record of notes and bonds issued
App § 145. Record of school bonds to be kept
App § 146. Redeemed bonds, notes, and interest coupons to be kept
App § 147. Chief Administrative Officer to keep separate account of school appropriations
App § 149. Subject to same penalties as State’s Attorneys
App § 150. Duties; liabilities; etc
App § 151. Powers; duties; liabilities; etc
App § 155. Board to act as board of audit; uniform system to be adopted
App § 156. Monthly reports; annual audit
App § 157. Preparation and submission of budget
App § 158. Sinking Fund abolished
App § 159. Selection of official depositary
App § 160. Care and control of public buildings
App § 161. Repairs to public buildings
App § 162. Board authorized to rent portions of public buildings
App § 165. Manner of filling vacancies
App § 169. Powers generally; authority to establish graded schools
App § 170. Authority to establish bylaws and regulations
App § 171. Appointment; compensation; removal; term
App § 172. Duties of Superintendent; commissioners to file monthly report
App § 173. Appointment; duties
App § 174. City to provide, equip, and maintain
App § 175. Commissioners to control location, construction, sale, and purchase
App § 176. Statement showing necessity for construction or purchase required
App § 177. Council to approve purchase or construction
App § 178. Funds for construction or purchase to be provided by tax levy
App § 181. Liabilities to be approved and budget preparation
App § 183. Board of Police Commissioners; composition; terms
App § 184. Same—Powers and duties
App § 185. Officers of police force designated
App § 186. Manner of filling vacancies
App § 187. Force to be maintained; selection of members
App § 188. Manner of appointment
App § 189. Members of force to be retained as long as they remain competent
App § 190. Chief may remove member for cause; hearing
App § 191. Political activity restricted
App § 192. Authority to appoint; defined; powers
App § 193. Service and process; fees allowed
App § 194. Police to have same powers as constables; jurisdiction limited
App § 195. Compensation to be set by Council
App § 195a. Authority of University of Vermont police officers
App § 197. Authority to establish rules and regulations for Fire Department
App § 198. Fire Department; created; members; appointment
App § 199. Department to be under supervision of Chief Engineer
App § 200. Powers of fire commissioners
App § 201. Powers relating to Fire Department
App § 202. Political activity restricted
App § 203. Commissioners to manage parks; composition of Board
App § 204. Records to be kept; annual reports to City Council required
App § 205. Parks and Recreation Department; appointment of Superintendent, and engineer
App § 207. Authorization to establish and alter rules for park operation
App § 208. Determination of location of sewers, water pipes, wires, etc
App § 209. Regulation of planting and care of trees in parks
App § 210. Direction that trees be planted along public grounds and assess abutting land
App § 211. Authority to regulate parking
App § 212. Authority to declare weeds, underbrush, etc., a nuisance and direct removal
App § 213. Issuance of bonds to provide funds for parks authorized
App § 214. Bills and expenses to be approved
App § 215. Definition of “park property”
App § 217. Condemnation of land for park and/or recreational purposes authorized
App § 218. Composition; appointment; terms
App § 220. Bylaws and regulations of Board to have force of ordinances
App § 226. Composition; appointment; term
App § 227. Superintendent/General Manager; duties
App § 229. Authority to create; powers and duties
App § 234. Purposes and powers
App § 235. Council may lay out certain streets; owners’ petition
App § 236. Prior actions regarding streets ratified
App § 237. Rights of property owners
App § 238. Rights of property owners when street discontinued
App § 240. Estimation of probable expenses authorized
App § 241. Decisions regarding assessments to be recorded
App § 242. Proceedings for objections to assessment
App § 243. Assessment lien suspended until final determination
App § 244. Petition for relief not to delay opening or altering of street
App § 245. Copy of final determination to be recorded; assessment to become lien
App § 246. Warrant to be issued upon failure to pay assessment; collection
App § 247. Court to have jurisdiction to determine questioned assessments
App § 248. Establishment and maintenance authorized; assessments
App § 249. Establishment and construction through private lands authorized
App § 250. Assessment of landowners authorized
App § 251. Assessment proceedings and rights
App § 254. Acceptance of service
App § 256. Service on nonresidents
App § 258. Return of citation prima facie evidence of service
App § 259. Proceedings to be postponed until all interested parties notified
App § 260. Manner of giving notice to additional interested parties
App § 261. Proceedings not to be voided for failure to give notice
App § 262. City Council may order improvements upon petition of owners
App § 263. Authorization to make improvements without petition; assessment of costs
App § 265. Statement to be made
App § 266. Chief Administrative Officer to record assessments; notification of owners
App § 267. Deadline for paying
App § 276. Composition; terms; powers; airport management
App § 278. Adoption of bylaws authorized; meetings
App § 279. Local Board to be in lieu of statutory Board; general powers
App § 281. Board of Health authorized to make rules and regulations
App § 282. Powers and duties of Health Officer
App § 284. Maintenance of Retirement Fund; Retiring Board; sources of Retirement Fund
App § 285. Trustees of Fund designated; powers; officers
App § 286. Board of Medical Examiners—Created; duties; composition; terms; compensation
App § 287. Retirement generally
App § 288. Reexamination of person on retired list; reappointment, etc
App § 289. Record of proceedings to be kept; report to City Council required
App § 299. Rights, duties, and liabilities of City to remain as existing at time of organization
App § 300. Copy of charter to be kept in office of Chief Administrative Officer
App § 301. Designation of chapter
App § 303. Alteration, amendment, or repeal of charter
App § 306. Reserve Fund of Light Department not to be increased without vote
App § 322. Establishment of Commission
App § 323. Expansion of Church Street Marketplace District and/or Marketplace
App § 324. Purposes and powers
App § 327. Powers supplemental; construction
App § 330. Board of Tax Appeals
App § 331. Creation of Community and Economic Development Office
App § 332. Purposes and powers
App § 333. Department to be under supervision of Director
App § 351. Creation of Burlington City Arts
App § 352. Purposes and powers
App § 353. Department to be under supervision of Director
App § 361. Creation of Human Resources Department
App § 362. Purposes and powers
App § 363. Department to be under supervision of Director
App § 370. Creation of Department of Permitting and Inspections
App § 371. Purposes and powers
App § 372. Department to be under supervision of Director
App § 373. Powers, duties, and responsibilities of Zoning Administrative Officer
App § 401. Revisions effective without publication
App § 405. Authority to establish system
App § 407. Direction to budget funds for system
App § 408. Existing provisions to remain valid until new provisions adopted
App § 415. Authority to construct and maintain an electric plant
App § 416. Authority to construct, maintain, and operate a gas-generating and distribution plant
App § 417. Authority to acquire property for purposes of sections 415 and 416 of this charter
App § 419. Operation of gas business
App § 420. Procedure for exercising eminent domain right
App § 421. Issuance of bonds authorized
App § 422. Rates sufficient to pay for services and bonds to be charged
App § 423. Bond issuance to be approved by voters
App § 432. Electric plant; improvement of
App § 435. Same—pledge of revenues
App § 437. Same—Anticipation notes
App § 439. Same—rights of holders
App § 441. Rates; payment by municipal agencies
App § 443. Energy conservation facilities
App § 444. Construction of article
App § 448. Powers exercised through City Council
App § 449. Authority for joint venture for telecommunications
App § 501. City of Burlington utility facilities; taxation of